LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles will allocate $2.3 million to “alternative” policing programs that deploy unarmed responders to areas with high gun violence in order to lower the number of violent crimes in those areas. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion Feb. 23 to fund a policing pilot program that would send “alternative” unarmed responders to areas “most acutely affected by the recent surge in gun violence.” The $2.3 million will come from the city’s general fund. Last month, the LA Police Department (LAPD) reported that deadly shootings involving LAPD officers were up over 140 percent, while homicides increased nearly 12 percent from 2020 to 2021. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said during a press conference last month that 54 percent of the city’s shootings and homicides were related to gang violence. “Given the surge of violent crime that we’ve seen in certain parts of our city … we know …